Safety goggles



Sept. 8, 1964 H. w. NELSON SAFETY GOGGLES Filed Oct 15, 1962 1 255620770 6040250 fleesce/pr/au Mme/W00," awe Gus/n2 sunrrsepeoor (L542 48 v44 40 46 J0 40 46 J0 4 INVENTOR. HARRY W. NELSON ATTYS.

United States Patent 3,147,489 SAFETY GUGGLES Harry W. Nelson, 1669Riverside Drive, Akron 10, Ohio Filed Oct. 15, 1962, Ser. No. 230,444 4Claims. (Cl. 2--14) This invention relates to safety goggles, and moreparticularly to that type of safety goggle worn for oxy-acetylenewelding or cutting and to safety goggles for grinding, chipping andscaling metals.

Heretofore it has been known that safety goggles must be worn whilecutting or welding with oXy-acetylene equipment. There have been manyand varied types of goggles removably carrying dark lenses in use forthis purpose. However, these goggles do not provide for the introduction, in addition to the dark lenses, of a prescription lens and/ or ashatterproof lens. It has been the practice that when a man who normallywears glasses used oXy-acetylene welding equipment, that he either hadto remove his glasses to put the goggles on, or try tofit a pair ofgoggles over his glasses. Also, in the present goggles, there has notbeen a satisfactory air vent on the side of the goggles to prevent allsparks from entering the goggles and possibly burning a persons eye orthe skin of the face inside of the goggles. Moreover, known gogglesoften inadequately protect the dark or other lenses of the goggles.Fastening straps provided in commercial goggles usually fail after a fewweeks use of the goggles.

It is the general object of the invention to avoid and overcome theforegoing and other diificulties of and objections to prior artpractices by the provisions of a pair of safety goggles adaptable toreceive, selectively, and in desired order, several or all of thefollowing; a protective lens, a colored lens, a prescription lens, ashatterproof lens, and a protective lens with the foregoing beingaccomplished in a streamlined frame having improved air vents andfastening strap, with the goggles being characterized by safety,simplicity of design, low maintenance, effectiveness of use, long-lifeand low cost fabrication.

Another object of the invention is to provide a safety gogglecharacterized by a construction that holds certain lenses in a spacedapart position providing a dead air space thereby creating a dual windoweffect which will allow no clouding up between lenses.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pair of safety gogglescapable of containing any thickness of prescription lens in either eyepiece.

- Another object of the invention is to provide a safety goggle whereinthe air vent on the side of the goggle will not allow sparks fromoutside to penetrate into the inner goggle causing possible harm to thepersons eyes or skin.

Another object of the invention is to provide a goggle whose parts canbe made from a plastic-like material formed in a simple mold.

The aforesaid objects of the invention, and other objects which willbecome apparent as the description proceeds, are achieved by providing asafety goggle for oxyacetylene welding and/or grinding or chippingprocesses adapted to receive a prescription lens and/or a shatterproofglass lens, with both lenses being relatively inexpensive and readilyavailable on the retail market. An adapter ring receives theprescription lens so that any 3,147,489 Patented Sept. 8, 1964 desiredcurvature or power prescription lens will fit in the goggle. If noprescription lens is needed the ring serves as a spacer. Practically anycombination of lenses (i.e. colored, safety glass, prescription, orclear) may be placed in the frame in any manner desired. With theconstruction hereinafter described, it is not necessary to use anygaskets between lenses to be sure all lenses fit closely and tightlytogether without rattling. Also, a novel and improved air vent isprovided on the side of each goggle together with improved strapfastening means.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be had tothe accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of one embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view takensubstantially on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of one of the goggles of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the goggles of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional View takensubstantially on the line 55 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic view on a reduced scale of anothercombination of lenses in the goggles of FIG- URE 2; and

FIGURE 7 is a diagrammatic view on a reduced scale of anothercombination of lenses in the goggles of FIG- URE 2.

Although the principles of the invention are broadly applicable to anytype of goggles utilizing colored or safety lenses, the invention isusually employed in conjunction with oXy-acetylene safety goggles, orsafety goggles for grinding or chipping metal, and hence it has been soillustrated and will be so described.

With specific reference to the form of the invention illustrated in thedrawings, the numeral 10 indicates generally a pair of safety goggleshaving an eyepiece frame 12 which is contoured to fit the face line ofthe average person. The frames 12 are flexibly connected together by aball and pin type chain 13 secured to each frame with a set screw 14 andcovered by a rubber or plastic tube 15 which acts as a bridge for thenose of the wearer of the goggles. Each frame 12 is molded from a stronglight plastic to the form shown including integrally molded air vent 18.As best seen in FIGURES 4 and 5, the air vent 18 is molded as a bulge ofgeometric shape, somewhat thicker than the body of the frame, andcontains a wide thin slot or a plurality of holes 20 extending upwardlyand inwardly from the outside bottom portion of the bulge of the airvent 18 to the inside top portion of the frame 12. This air vent 18admits sufficient air to the goggle to reduce fogging, but openingupwardly virtually eliminates the possibility of any sparks entering theinner goggle area.

The strap 19 for securing the pair of goggles to the head of the wearerof the goggles is molded or otherwise formed of high grade rubber of atleast the quality of inner tube stock and so as to provide spacedvertical openings adjacent both ends thereof when the plane of the strapis vertical. In one known embodiment the strap is made from two piecesof rubber stock cemented or cured together and around small rubber tubes21 positioned vertically and having internal holes adapted to removablyreceive the legs of a spring wire buckle 23. The buckle 23 is made in asquare -O-shape as shown with one straight end being sprung into or outof a circular eye at the other end. Thus, with the strap ends extendingthrough holes 16 in each frame 12 the buckle or buckles 23 can be openedand repositioned to any seected pair of tubes 21 so that the strap 19snugly and resiliently engages the back of the head of the wearer of thegoggles and holds the goggles in position with the desired tension.

Having specific reference to FIGURE 2, the frame 12 is molded with aninternal shoulder 24 and an internally threaded circular end 26. Anexternally threaded spacer ring screws into the threaded end 26, and aninternally threaded cap 32 screws onto the spacer ring 30. The cap 32has a knurl 34 molded into its outer periphery, a circular skirt 36extending slidably over the end of the frame 12, and a lip 38 directedinwardly at its outer end.

With the structure described, various combinations of lenses can now beprovided in the goggles. In a typical embodiment of the invention, withthe parts disassembled, a clear glass 40 is first positioned downagainst the shoulder 24. This acts simply as a protecting means. Againstthe glass 40 is positioned an internally grooved plastic ring 42 whichhas a dual purpose. This ring 42 acts to receive and mount aprescription lens 44. The ring, of a composition similar to a regularglasses frame, is simply softened with heat and positioned around theperiphery of the circular prescription lens. Or if no prescription lensis to be incorporated into the goggles the ring 42 simply acts as aspacer.

The spacer ring 36 is now screwed snugly but without excessive pressuredown to the position shown in FIGURE 2 to hold the glass 40 and ring 42in non-moving position. A clear glass 46 is now positioned down againstthe lip 38 of the cap 32. This glass, like glass 449, acts as aprotective means. A colored glass 43, neces sary to protect the eyesduring welding, is positioned on top of the glass 46 and the cap 32 isnow screwed down snugly on the spacer ring 30 to hold glasses 46 and 48in non-moving position.

If the goggles are to be used for grinding or chipping, rather thanwelding, the cap 32 is removed and the colored glass 48 is replaced witha shatterproof laminated clear glass 50. FIGURE 6 shows thisarrangement. Should the wearer of the goggles wish to have both thecolored glass 48 and the laminated glass 50 this can also be done, asseen in FIGURE 7. The clear glass 46 may or may not be used in thiscombination.

The skirt 36 on the cap 32 slidably fits over the frame 12 allowing thecap 32 to be screwed down tight on the spacer ring 30 and provides aseal of the entire goggle unit. It is noted that a gap 45 exists betweenthe frame 12 and the cap 32 which is of sufficient distance to insurethat no matter what the thickness or combination of any of the lenseswithin reasonable limits that a tight fit will be secured by screwingthe cap 32 down snugly onto the spacer ring 30.

If it is desired gaskets can be placed between the lens combinations toprevent scratching or to provide a better seal. However, it has beenfound in practice that gaskets are normally not necessary to the properoperation of the goggles.

Thus, it is seen that a prescription lens 26 of any of the usualthicknesses and curvatures will slidably fit into the goggles and withthe axial length of the ring-preventing the surface of the prescriptionlens from touching any other lenses. The circular prescription lens 26can be purchased from readily available sources. Also, a lens of safetyshatterproof glass can easily be installed to replace the colored lens40 to make the goggles usable for grinding or chipping metal.

In effect, a dual window and dead air type construc tion is providedbetween the lenses 46 and 48 and the lenses 40 and 44 by means of thespacer ring 30. With the cap 32 screwed onto the spacer ring 30 in asnug 4 manner, the thermopane type of construction is formed and nocondensation or clouding occurs between the lens combinations.

During normal oxy-acetylene welding or cutting, the outer glass is oftenbadly scarred by hot pieces of metal coming in contact with its surface.After a period of time when this disc 46 is badly scored, it can easilybe replaced.

The invention provides a safety goggle for welding with oxy-acetyleneequipment and with the goggles adaptable to receive a standardprescription lens and/ or a lens of shatterproof glass. A goggle isprovided wherein a thermopane effect is achieved between the outerlenses and the inner lens to prevent clouding up between the lenscombinations. The goggle is adaptable to any combination or arrangementof lenses, making it possible to change prescription lenses as a personseyes change, or changing the goggles from welding goggles with coloredglass lenses, to goggles for chipping or grinding metal with clear glasslenses of shatterproof glass. An improved air vent is provided on theside of the goggles, said air vent having the cap-ability to virtuallyeliminate any sparks from entering inside the goggles. The goggles areadaptable to be easily formed by molding operations, therefore makingthem sturdy in construction, durable, attractive, and relativelyinexpensive.

It will be recognized that the objects of the invention have beenachieved by providing a safety goggle characterized by a capability toreceive a prescription lens, complete adaptability to any variouscombination of lenses, an improved air vent, simplicity of construction,durability, and relatively low cost.

The term lens as employed in the specification and claims is intended toinclude fiat discs not ground to curvatures but used in the goggles forprotective or other purposes. Also, the term glass is intended to coverplastic or other substitutes for glass.

While in accordance with the patent statutes, one best known embodimentof the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it is tobe particularly understood that the invention is not limited thereto orthereby, but that the inventive scope is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A pair of goggles including hollow eye piece frames, each frameincluding a face fitting rear portion, a cylindrical forward portion, aninternal shoulder spaced from the front end of the forward portion, aninternal thread on the forward portion between the shoulder and the end,an externally threaded spacer sleeve screwing into the internal threadof the forward portion of the frame so that a portion thereof extendsoutwardly beyond the outer end of the forward portion of the frame, afirst group of lenses operatively held in position between the shoulderand the sleeve when the sleeve is removably screwed into the internalthread of the forward portion of the frame, an internally threaded capscrewing on the spacer sleeve, a radially inwardly directed lip on theouter end of the cap, and a second group of lenses operatively held intoposition between the lip and the end of the sleeve when the cap isremovably screwed over the outwardly extending portion of the sleeve sothat a thermopane effect is achieved between the first and second groupsof lenses held in secured adjacent relationship on each end of thespacer sleeve.

2. A pair of goggles according to claim 1 where the cap has a sealingskirt integrally formed therewith ex tending slidably over the outerperiphery of the forward portion of the frame.

3. A pair of goggles according to claim 1 where the rear portion of eachframe has a plurality of vent openings extending from the outer surfaceof the frame upwardly and arcuately inwardly to enlarged openings on theinner surface of the frame and said vent openings being substantiallyparallel to the cylindrical forward portion of the frame.

r 1 I I 5 4. A pair of goggles according to claim 1 where the 1,659,165rear portion of each frame has a downwardly directed 1,687,818 ventopening which extends upwardly and arcuately 1,727,455 through the frameto an enlarged internal opening on the 1,851,579 inner surface of theframe. 2,204,631

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,402,827 1,308,484 Day July 1, 1919 2,718,007 1,587,131 Tillyer June 1,1926 10 2,351,383

6 Sangren Feb. 14, 1928 Wollensak Oct. 16, 1928 Tully Sept. 10, 1929Hixon Mar. 29, 1932 Tillyer June 18, 1940 Andrews Nov. 18, 1941 Splaineet a1 Aug. 1, 1944 Malcom June 25, 1946 Schauweker Sept. 20, 1955 Puntonet a1 Sept. 9, 1958

1. A PAIR OF GOGGLES INCLUDING HOLLOW EYE PIECE FRAMES, EACH FRAMEINCLUDING A FACE FITTING REAR PORTION, A CYLINDRICAL FORWARD PORTION, ANINTERNAL SHOULDER SPACED FROM THE FRONT END OF THE FORWARD PORTION, ANINTERNAL THREAD ON THE FORWARD PORTION BETWEEN THE SHOULDER AND THE END,AN EXTERNALLY THREADED SPACER SLEEVE SCREWING INTO